Sunday, August 14, 2011

"I was RUNNINGGGG!"

My boss Dave's nephew was sick this weekend (just a cold) and wasn't well enough to run in Sydney's infamous City 2 Surf race. Dave asked if I wanted his bib to run in the 14 km (8.7 mile/ one-third marathon) race. It was on a Sunday morning and I only had birthday drinks planned for Saturday night, so why not?!
I woke up Saturday morning and took the bus (free public transport all day with your bib, # 6975) into the city. I hopped in line and I was just in time for the start.

Well this race had a gradient that was killer! (see below)
Last year I did the Belmar 5 mile after a Bon Jovi concert so I was pretty cocky. This race was legit. 85,000 took part in this race. It is the largest timed race EVER to take place in the WORLD. I was a part of making history.  as you can see through 6-8k there is a hill called "heart break hill." It wasn't as much of a physical heart  break as it was an emotional butt kick in more than a few ways. First off, your body will do anything your mind wants it to do. Second, how can you feel pain when there is a man with a hand-bike propelled wheelchair climbing a 45 degree slope next to you at a speed that is almost going backwards? There was a woman who didn't have any legs wheeling herself up the hill as well. It took me at least 20 minutes to climb this hill, but this woman was struggling, and to see runners who could barely breathe or walk, taking turns pushing this woman was heartwarming. Then, in the last 4k's a blind man came up beside me and was holding onto an orange band with another man. The other man was his guide, racing along with him. At this point I almost burst into tears (if I did I probably would have had an asthma attack, so I pulled myself together just in time.)  My hips were aching and my quads were burning, but the fact that these people were racing on this incredibly difficult course, was enough motivation to not quit.

After crossing the finish line when the clock said 1 h 23 min, I was quite satisfied. (That wasn't my official time though, because I didn't cross the start for at least 4 minutes after the clock started.) If you were to times this pace by three, I would have run a 4 hour marathon! That is pretty darn good, considering NYC's course doesn't have nearly as tough of hills. I also wouldn't have had several beers before the marathon either!

After the race I guzzled at least a gallon of Gatorade and water, then got a bacon and egg sandwich and met up with my roomie. I met up with her about an hour after and we grabbed a chicken sandwich and a much deserved brewski. City2Surf is kind of like a Seafood Festival afterwards. Its a giant party. Unfortunately, I was soo tired I couldn't hang past 1 pm.  I took the bus from Bondi Beach (which I got a solid 30 minute nap) to the train in Bondi Junction to the bus in the city, to my doorstep. I took a shower and by 4 pm I was lights out until 8 this morning. Although I was so exhausted, that was one of the most fun races I've ever run. I'm giving my body today to recover, but I have 18 miles more to run this week for my marathon training! I'm soo excited for NY, only 85 days left! Now I just have to raise $2950 more for PKD and I'll be set!

Please go to:

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/abbyschrader/RunforPKDINGNYCMarathonTeam 


to make your donation today! 11/6/11


Thanks!!!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Americana goes Aussie- Part I

Out the window goes gargantuan brewed coffees and Staten Island accents. I now drink skinny capps with poached eggs and say "Oy!". I call my living room a lounge room and coaches lounges. I take the bus to the city (sometimes to sneak that Venti brewed coffee from the American Starbucks-I have found four locations in Sydney!) and ride a push bike instead of a bicycle. I look right left right when crossing streets.

Here are some of the new terms I use in daily conversation:

Arvo- Afternoon- "Let's grab lunch this arvo."
OTT- Over the top "Her outfit was OTT."
mobile- Cell phone "Call my mobile."
devo- devastated "I'm so devo my meal was crap."
toats- Totally- See below
froth- when you like a guy "I'm toats frothing on ....."
perv- see froth
babe- hun - "Hey Babe." -Sounds common but EVERY girl says it.
suss- sort out- "I'm going to suss out my finances before I book my plane ticket."
bloody hell- For crying out loud/Damn it -  After burning my oatmeal- "Bloody hell!
far out - In any instance you want to use the F word or say No way - When I read the bus timetable wrong this week and realized I'd have to wait 40 min for the next bus: "Bloody Hell! Far out!"
How ya goin'?- How are you. "How ya going today?
mate- bud, guy, homie, sweetie. "Hey Mate!" "Mate, what were you thinking?"

That's all I can think of for now, but I will let you know more in Part II!







Thursday, August 4, 2011

BALDING

I was sitting on the bus into the city early in the morning this week. As I looked around, I saw at least four men in their mid 20s with some serious balding. One guy was bold enough to close shave and polish his dome. Well done champ! No use in saving something that's not there, or worse...saving something thats better off gone.
If at any stage in a man's life, he has to grow his ranga (as in oRANGAtan) beard into a comb over turban, you deserve to be made fun of. If you thought you would never get an 'ole bird to marry you, guess again. I'm pretty sure a pterodactyl wouldn't even touch down on your landing pad homefry!

Sorry mate, God hates you. He put hair on your ENTIRE body except your head. Cruel joke. Good news, you have eyebrows...along with enough hair to weave enough blankets to keep an entire family warm this winter. At least you're comfortable in your own skin, or shall I say fur, to deal with the bareness of your belfry. 

Good news and bad news Prince Billy. Good news is, you got your mum's ears. Bad news, you got your dad's hairline. Good thing you still had the hair for the wedding. You really should have worn your wedding hat. Might have had better pics without that glare coming off your scalp. Bummer though that you won't have hair to hold your crown when Grandma E and Papa Prince croak. Let it go. SHAVE IT!

Then there is "THE DONALD"
Some guys just don't know when to give it up. I guarantee there is a baby squirrel nested in there. He might even hide a beer or a flask in there daily just so he doesn't have to deal with the pain of having his hair. Can one get "FIRED" for hair like that? DT...its over. You have the hot 2nd wife. You're a grandpa. Get old and get bald already! If not...I'm pretty sure you can afford some decent extensions? Or maybe you could hire a better stylist who could color your hair properly. Andre Agassi got rid of his extensions and was a better man and player for it. We would all love you much more. Now that you're not running for President 2012, you can by all means be a baldy! 

Note to all balders: 
   1st step: Acceptance. 
   2nd step: A sharp razor. 
  Get it done!